Lawmakers Seek Programs to Boost Mental Health Care For Youngsters

STAUNTON — Local legislators have thrown their support behind proposed state budget amendments that would fund crisis stabilization projects to help ease the strain on Virginia's only public mental hospital for children, Staunton's Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents.

A continuing rise in readmissions to the hospital, mainly because of a lack of help back in the community when children are discharged, has alarmed children's advocates as well as the Valley delegation.